Concepts
Analytic and synthetic editing
Analytic editing uses close shots and details to immerse us in emotion; synthetic editing uses wide shots to show the whole space.
Analytic editing breaks reality down: it brings the camera close to a gesture, a tear or a hand so we feel the emotion from within. Synthetic editing, by contrast, integrates: it shows the whole setting and places the action in context.
Alternating both modes regulates the viewer’s emotional distance: pulling us close to move us, and back to give perspective.
Example
A close-up of frightened eyes (analytic) versus a wide shot of the whole city in ruins (synthetic).
How to spot it
Ask yourself: “is the camera locked on a detail, or showing me the whole panorama?”
Frequently asked questions
What is analytic editing?
It uses close shots and details to bring the viewer near the emotion of a scene.
What is synthetic editing?
It uses wide or distant shots to show the whole space and situation.